Written by Isaiah Banda
Summer has finally arrived and with it we welcome back our favourite migratory birds, verdant landscapes and the bright beautiful colours the season brings.
As we approach the end of the year, we wait in anticipation for the rains to come and ignite life back into the bush. Although we have had brief stints of rain during the month of up to 80mm, we still haven’t had the massive downpours that really kick starts the rainy season. We are still patiently waiting for it.
However, the small amount of rain that we have had thus far, the bush is still dull and slowly beginning to feel cleaner as it has settled the dust that has been lingering all winter. The cloudy conditions this month has given us a soft feel when photographing the amazing subjects that Mabula has to offer.
In the heart of Mabula savannah, the Lake Kyle pride of lions roam freely under the golden sun. After their satisfying feast, they rest contentedly while their playful young cubs frolic around them.
The lionesses, with their keen eyes, were basking in the warm glow of the rising sun. Their bellies were full of the recent zebra kill, and they present a sense of satisfaction. Nearby, the dominant male lion stands guard, his mane hair glistening in the fading light, watching over his family with a sense of pride and protection.
Meanwhile, the joyful cubs tumble and wrestle with each other, their tiny roars filling the air with youthful energy and excitement. They playfully pounce on one another, practicing their hunting skills under the watchful eyes of their mothers. That is so nice to hear is when they mimic the adults, trying to assert their dominance and establish their place within the pride.
As the evening approaches, the pride settles down for the night, the adults affectionately grooming each other while the cubs curl up together, finding warmth and comfort in the safety of their family. Despite the harsh realities of the wild, this moment of peace and harmony among the lions serves as a reminder of the beauty and resilience of these magnificent creatures.
Since the first day these cubs were spotted after their bird, they have given us nothing but best sightings. They keep entertaining us everytime we get to see them. I cannot wait for the time when they will start hunting for themselves and not rely on the mothers to hunt for them. It will be very interesting to witness them make their first ever kill.
Their bond is unbreakable, their love unwavering, as they navigate the challenges of the wild together, a true symbol of strength and unity. May we all learn from these lions, embracing our loved ones with open arms and finding solace in the simple joys of togetherness.
With currently seven youngsters of almost one year old, hunting is happens almost every second day. These youngsters takes quite a big share of the meat everytime the pride makes a kill. If the pride manages to kill a zebra, it will not be enough for all of them and they will need to hunt the following day or two. The cubs are still on their learning time and they still have one year to go for them to be able to hunt on their own. However one can see that the lioness have done good job in teaching them.
When hunting smaller animals, lions will often ankle-tap their prey. By clipping an animal’s ankle from behind while it is walking or running, the lion aims to trip it up, making it easier to catch. Larger animals are brought to the ground by jumping on their backs. This is usually when the bigger, stronger male lions decide to join in. I have been very lucky to witness a kill while out on safari here at Mabula.
Although lions are able to hunt alone, it can be much easier to have a little help. When hunting in a pride, each lion has its own place. Just like in a football team, they will choose to be in either a left, right or centre position. If stalking is too difficult, a pride may decide to ambush their prey instead. Running very quickly to the prey forces it to run towards other lions, or into bushes, where it will be trapped. Working together like this means that lions are much more likely to catch their prey.
It was one early normal morning when we started our safari without a wish from the guests, we decided that we are going to bumble drive, do some tracking and just have fun out there. From the silent intensity of tracking to the laughter and surprise of nature’s more playful displays, and with all the fun we were having we ended up at Ngulubi dam, the plan for Ngulubi dam was to see if we can find hippos and crocodile tracks so I can show my guests.
While we were all looking for tracks around the dam hall driving slowly, our attention was cought by movements towards the northern side of the dam, current dams are very low with water, most of those areas where there was water it is only sand without any vegetation growing, which makes it easy to see any movements. Looking through binoculars we could see that there was a glimpse of a crocodile. We could see there actions happening but due to the distance we did not have a clear.
I could see sad faces on my guests, with a no off road driving policy it meant that we could not drive all the way to where we were seeing the movements, however they did not know it was their lucky day.
As I am qualified to conduct guided bushwalks. I decided to take them around back to hunters dam direction, in their mind we were going to try get a better visual. We could not see anything at all. Then the moment of reality happened when I infomed them we are going to walk to the dam to see if we can have a better visual of what was happening.
I have never seen this much exitement as I saw on guests when I told them we are going to do a short walk. That is one of the perks of being a trails guide, you have an option of doing a bushwalk which is totally a different experience for the guests, you can sneak onto the animals view them without them seeing you. You get a chance of walking the same path that the magestic elephants have walked or were hippos and crocodile have been.
On arrival to the northern side of Ngulubi dam, we were all in silent, everyone talking to their own heart. We found there crocodiles and impala, crocodiles were approaching a dead impala which looked like it was killed by another predator in the area. I was no longer worried about crocodiles but my biggest concern was who killed the impala, it was definitely not killed by crocodiles. What surprised us was that the impala looked dead to us, I have always seen and heard about impala waking up after few minutes of lying dead on the group, however I have never experienced it myself.
It was amazing to see how the crocodiles were tearing apart the impala. If it was one crocodile it was going to be difficult for it to tear it apart, this time they were three which made it easy for them to start feeding right away. The instinct were there to put it in the water, with the type of terrain and with other crocodiles, while one was trying to pull to the water the other one was holding it back. The third one used this oppoturnity to start eating and not waste time.
It was not long before the carcass was inside the water and crocdiles started displaying what they are good at. This feeding is not a lions were you can find eating and growling amongst each other, but to see crocodile showing their feeding behaviour is something that you don’t see everyday and when you get the opportunity to see it, enjoy every moment. I would rather skip breakfast and spend time watching this type of action as I might not get this kind of .opportunity again.
I consider myself lucky to have been in that area with my guests on the right place at a right time. Although at some moment it looked very scary when the crocodiles were looking derectly at us, we were very safe from them, we were at elevated point where we were higher than them and they were concentrating on their breakfast at hand instead of our presence.
Like all reptiles, crocodiles are ectotherms, which means they must gather heat from their environment. Crocodiles have developed behaviors to control their body thermostat, they bask in the sun when cool and seek shade or water when hot. Ectotherms like crocodiles don’t need to eat regularly to warm their bodies, and so they save an enormous amount of energy that can be put to other use or stored for later.
A crocodile’s metabolism is so evolved that its body uses and stores nearly the entirety of the food it consumes. While the crocodile’s diet may be undiscriminating, its social interactions are a bit more complicated. Crocodiles are more social than all other reptiles. Though they primarily lead solitary lives, they resort to group behavior for important activities such as hunting or raising hatchlings.
Crocodiles don’t merely recognize one other, they form long-term relationships. They are hierarchical and communicate by means of vocalization, postures, chemical signals, even touch. A crocodile’s brain is more complex than that of any other reptile. These powerful predators also have an excellent sense of smell and superior sound perception. Noting the crocodiles ability to learn to avoid dangerous situations.
The whole morning safari we were glued on the same spot and not even one of us wanted to leave the sighting as it was enjoyable and entertained us. One would rip of the piece of a meat and the other would follow the other one back into the water.
And boooom it was time for us to leave and head back as the time for the safari was finished and breakfast was calling. It was a difficult moment to leave the area while the crocodiles were still giving us a good experience. For the guests they were enjoying the sighting, as for me, my concern was who killed the impala initially because it was definetly not crocodiles that did that.
I could see in everyone’s eyes that they wanted to ask me to stay longer. When we left the vehicle andl walked to the dam it took us about 3 minutes, however to get back to the vehicle from the dam it took us almost 15 minutes, eventually we arrived at the vehicle and we were on the move back towards the direction of main lodge via Hunters dam and rocky road. What a sighting it was. Watching these apex predators feeding on their natural behaviour was something else, not only for my guests but for me also.
When we thought it was the end of the suprises and amzing sighting for the morning, on hunters dam we found our resident female cheetah lying down. And our question was answered immediately. Impala was killed by a cheetah and crocodile stole it from her, ohh well it happens, she caught on someones teritory and she came second best. Cheetahs would avoid confrontantion by all means than to fight and get injured.
The sadness of leaving crocodiles sighting was replaced by happiness of seeing a cheetah which we did not expect. This female has been recently introduced on the reserve a few months ago, and she has adapted very well and now utilizing almost all corners of the reserve. She has been succesful in hunting her prey. Most of the kills are mainly impalas as compared to the coalition which they hunt wildebeest and zebras.
Looking on her belly we could see that she was full, and not far from where she was the could see a remainder of a wildebeest carcass, I think after giving up on the impala kill she went to hunters dam and she was lucky to have found wildebeest and was able to bring it down. Everyone was relieved that she was able to to make another kill and she wouldn’t go hungry.
We watched her drinking water on the small patch of the remaining water at Hunters dam, before lying down to rest, cheetah would normally leave the carcass after eating to sleep in a distance from the kill to avoid confrontation with other preadtors. And that is what this female has done although she had a clear view of the kill. We then moved along and left her to carry on with the rocky road which lead us to the main lodge. It was not the end of the surprises, just when we hit Long Winding road I heard one of my guest say “stop stop and move back”
Wow, wow it was all everyone can say. Another sighting that we did not expect to get, considering the area where they were sighted the previous afternoon and they reported them to have eaten where they saw them last, I thought to myself they wouldn’t move so far with full bellies. These males have met with our resident female twice now and our fingers are crossed that we will have cubs soon.
At this time I had to now make a call to the lodge to inform the restaurant we are going to be late for breakfast, they must keep breakfast for my guests we have a traffic condition ahead of us that is delaying us. Since there was not much action around them excpet that they were chilling underneath a shade, we did not spend too much time with them. We left them and carried on towards the direction of the lodge.
We saw something that looked like a vulture flying quitely on the sky. As we approach Kieviet plain which is very close to the lodge we started to notice a massive gathering of vultures circling above which begun to drop out of the sky. This was our first glimpse of what was about to unfold, as all the white-backed vulture’s raced towards what was left of a Wildebeest carcass.
Many of us believe that seeing vultures circling in the sky is a sure indication that something is dead or dying or being killed by another predator. This may not always be the case. Because they are heavy birds they are able to fly best and conserve energy when there are warm thermals to carry them across vast distances, but luckily for us we were soon to find out if this was not the case.
We drove up and went straight to the area where we had seen them landing. Upon approaching the site, we realized the vultures were feeding on something. The guests were ecstatic to see so many vultures in one place. This is what the area were we last saw the cheetah coaltion, they made a wildebeest kill, ate and left, which is why we found them lying under a tree for some shade.
To understand vulture behaviour we must come to terms with the fact that vultures are opportunistic feeders that feed in a very competitive environment on carrion and dead carcasses. These vultures by any stretch of the imagination, cannot be regarded as good looking creatures, but they do play a vital role in the greater scheme of things by removing carcasses from the veld and actually have a feeding hierarchy.
The most amazing this is that they were active and feeding on the remainder of the wildebeest carcass, something we hardly ever see as we don’t have vultures permanently on the reserve. To some, this may not mean much but vultures have all been categorized as a vulnerable bird species due to the decline in their populations across South Africa in the last few years.
The best part was how it helped us gain a better understanding of how they feed and interact, something I had only read about in books before now. It was a new experience not only for my guests but for myself as well even though I have been on the guiding industry for so many years. We learn everyday.
The white-backed vultures are the most numerous vultures that visit Mabula more often when there is a carcass. They resembled all the other children at the party who were constantly fighting over the best-flavored sour worms, various sweets and jelly beans. The battle that goes down at a carcass is just as fierce as sugar-rushed kids around a table full of goodies.
A white-backed vulture as it drops out of the sky. Circling vultures don’t necessarily mean that a kill is around but when they all start landing, there is a good chance there is a carcass that they’re after.
Understanding the Mighty Elephant through Communication. It’s no secret that elephants are incredibly intelligent animals. They are known for their remarkable empathy, mourning the loss of individuals from their herds and working together to protect vulnerable members. Their social structures are complex, with matriarchs leading the herd and passing down knowledge through generations.
These majestic mammals have unique ways of communicating with one another, not only through sound but also through visual cues, touch, and vibrations carried along the earth’s surface. Their communication is intricate and multi-faceted, reflecting their deep social bonds and cooperative nature.
From curling their trunks to flapping their ears and lifting their tails, elephants use their bodies in numerous ways to communicate messages to members of their herds as well as to other species. These movements can be bold and obvious, or subtle and nuanced, used to display dominance, show aggression, signal arousal, and convey a range of other emotions and intentions. For example, a dominant elephant might spread its ears wide and raise its head high to appear larger, while a submissive one may tuck its tail and lower its head.
As highly social creatures, touch is an essential communication tool for elephants. A gentle caress with the trunk can be used to display affection, offer reassurance, or protect a calf, while the rubbing of ears against another individual is often playful in nature. In more aggressive interactions, trunks can be used to slap another individual, while the entire body can serve as a weapon to ram into others. Touch helps reinforce social bonds within the herd and is crucial for maintaining the hierarchy and cooperation among its members.
The language of elephants is as complex as their social structures. Understanding their communication methods not only deepens our appreciation for these magnificent animals but also highlights the importance of protecting them and their habitats. Every gesture, rumble, and touch tells a story one that we are only beginning to fully comprehend.
On a recent safari drive, we ventured into the south of Mabula to search for the herd of buffalo that had been evading us for days. Hard to believe that a herd of more than 100 buffalo can be difficult to find but sometimes they are. The southern parts of Mabula are a good area to search for buffalo as the open plaains like Blebok plain, Ngorogoro plains and reginald plains provide plenty of food for them to happily graze.
An adventure into these plains is always filled with excitement, it takes some time to get down there but you never really know what you might find. About an hour into the safari, we spotted tracks of buffaloes. Tracks were crossing the road heading towards a prominent waterhole, Mvubu Gullies.
I decided to walk down the road for a short distance to make sure that it was the tracks of the whole herd and that we were heading in the right direction. while off the vehicle, I heard the ever-familiar bellow of a buffalo, confirming my initial thoughts that they were still heading towards that waterhole or maybe coming back and had already had a drink.
A “sundowner” is a popular tradition during African safaris where guests stop in the late afternoon to enjoy drinks while watching the sunset, often in a scenic spot like a waterhole or on a hill. This relaxing break allows guests to unwind and reflect on the day’s experiences, while also taking in the beauty of the surroundings as the day transitions into evening.
During an afternoon safari, the guide may find a picturesque location to stop, such as a secluded clearing, a lookout point, or beside a waterhole or up on top of the hill. Guests can enjoy a selection of drinks, such as cold variety of soft drinks, variety of cold beers, gin and tonic, or a whiskey, as well as some light snacks, all while keeping an eye out for wildlife.
The experience is not just about the drinks but also about immersing oneself in the tranquil, natural environment, often with the golden light of the setting sun casting a warm glow over the landscape. It’s a moment to appreciate the serenity of the wilderness, surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature.
The sun begins its descent, casting a soft golden hue across the horizon. As the light shifts, the landscape transforms, the vibrant greens of the day soften into muted shades of amber and purple. It’s the kind of moment that makes you stop and breathe a little deeper, a reminder that there’s beauty in the fleeting.
The air cools, and the sounds of the day’s activity begin to quiet. Birds finish their songs, and the last of the morning’s heat lingers in the ground, while the evening’s chill starts to take over. The sky itself is a masterpiece, rich streaks of red, orange, and purple fade into the blue canvas above.
The sun, a brilliant orb now, hangs low and heavy in the sky, just before it dips below the earth’s curve. And in that moment, everything seems to pause. There’s a stillness, a reverence that comes with the knowing that the day has ended. As the last light slips away, the reserve holds its breath. The stars begin to emerge, dotting the vast sky above like ancient eyes watching over the earth.
A soft breeze rustles the leaves, and the night animals stir, their presence felt more than seen. A moment of quiet magic fills the air. And then, the darkness of night falls, but it is not empty. The reserve is still alive, its pulse just a little different, as the stories of the night begin to unfold. The sunset has gone, but it lingers in our mind like the final note of a beautiful song, as we sit there, savouring the silence, knowing that we’ve been part of something timeless.
Dinner is something to look for after a wonderful afternoon safari. Mabula’s new boma adds another layer of enchantment to the dining experience. Situated in a traditional African-style open-air enclosure, the boma offers a unique setting for dinner beneath the stars.
This is where guests gather around a crackling fire, the flames flickering and casting shadows across the faces of those seated around it. The atmosphere is magical, as the aromas of freshly prepared African-inspired dishes fill the air.
This new boma here at Mabula Game Lodge reflects the essence of what safaris are all about connecting with the reserve, our guests, and Mabula traditions while indulging in the simple pleasures of life. Whether you’re enjoying a leisurely evening meal or gathering to celebrate the day’s adventures, this boma offers a memorable and authentic way to conclude your safari experience.
From Mabula Team to all our guests, thank you for being part of the Mabula family. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Until next time…
From Isaiah Banda & Mabula family.
Safari Greetings.